Nonmetallic wheel



Patented Aug. 9, 1932 PATENT oEFlcE CLARENCE W. MANSUR, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS. ASSIGNOR TRIO COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YOR NONMETALLIC WHEEL Application filed February 28, 1929. Serial No. 343,497.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 244,741, filed January 5, 1928.

In connection with non-metallic wheels such as for example gear wheels formed from spinnable textile fibers and a binder,'it` becomes necessary to provide a metal hub by which the Wheel is attached to the shaft. When the web is relatively thick the metal hub may be molded directly into the web of the wheel blank. However, when the web is relatively thin, this is not practical because there is not enough material in the web to form a suiciently strong bond with the hub. In such cases it becomes necessary t0 fasten a hub in the web after the wheel blank has been molded. My invention relates especially to structures of the latter character.

In constructing a wheel or Wheel blank of this type, it is essential first that there be arm driving connection between the web of the wheel or wheel blank and the metallic hub so that it will not loosen on the hub, and second, that the structure be such that the hub can be manufactured and attached to the Web at low cost. .One object of. my invention is to provide a structure which meets these requirements in a satisfactory manner.

It is also essential that the web be suificiently strong so that, in case the shaft should seize, the key holding the gear shaft will shear 0E, rather thanl the gear be destroyed. A further object of my invention is to provide a web structure sufficiently strong to withstand torsional stresses that in practice may be applied to the same.

For a. consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the accompanying description and the claims appended thereto.

The description is directed to a gear wheel is a detail, sectional view showing the hub parts after `assembly and illustrating the manner in which they are riveted together; Fig. 4 is a face view of the hub structure as shown in Fig. 2 prior to the time the parts are riveted together; Fig. 5 is a face view of the hub structure as illustrated in Fig. 3

To eEivEnA'r. ELEcp and showing the parts of the structure riveted to each other; Fig. 6 is a face view of the web before the hub is attached to it; Fig. 7 is a View on a smaller scale of the die shown in Figs. 2 and 3; and Fig. 8 is a face view of the web reinforcement disc.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates the rim of a gear wheel or gear wheel blank and 2 indicates the web. As will be noted from Figs. 2 and 3, the Web is relatively thin.

According to my invention, l provide in web 2 a polygonal opening 3, a hexagonal opening being illustrated ,in the present instance, and in such opening l fasten a specially formed hub structure. The hub structure comprises two pieces, a center piece 4 having an integral flange 5, and awasher 6. Center piece 4 is of the same shape as is opening 3 opening, making a close fit with the walls of the opening. Center piece 4 may be straight or substantially straight. Preferably, however, it is tapered inwardly slightly from :Harige 5 to the outer end, this being done for manufacturing reasons. Washer 6 has a hexagonal opening 7 through it which is of a size to adapt the washer to fit over the end of center piece 4with a nice t. The washer is preferably dished slightly and is shown in Fig. 2, and its opening 7 is tapered somewhat asis seen clearly from Fig. 2.

As 4will be seen from Fig. 1, center piece 4 in the `finished structure is provided with a central opening 8 adapted to receive a shaft, the centerpiece being thus formed into what in substance amounts to a sleeve. However,V for reasons pointed out hereinafter, the center piece is made solid initially. The opening 8 is not formed in the centerpiece until after the hub structure has been mounted inthe opening of the web.

In assembling the hub structure on the web 2, the center piece 4 is inserted through the hexagonal opening( in the web after which the washer 6 is placed over the end of the hexagonal opening 10, the edge of which is countersunk to define an outer circular riveting edge 11 and an inset inner hexagonal riveting edge 12. The outer riveting edge 1l is of a diameter suchthat it initially engages only slightly if at all the corners of center piece 4. The straight sides of the hexagonal edge 12 are arranged to initially engage center piece 4 along its circumferential edge to a limited extent and only just enou h to provide the necessary maternal for riveting the washer 6 in position.

The riveting tool is then brought down against the end of center piece 4 and the pressure applied to it. The sides of the hexagonal edge 12 first. engage material along the side edges of the center piece causing it to fiow outward, washer 6 at the same time being pressed downward. As the metal flows outward, it fills into the recess between edges 12 and 11 and some of it flows beyond the edge 11 and is vpressed outward by such edge.

In connection with the riveting operation', more material is required at the corners of the hexagonal opening'in the washer to provide a riveting flange than is required along the sides of the hexagonaLopening and also the material at such corners is required to fiow further. The shape of the die is such that more material is caught by edge 12 at the corners of center piece 4 and hence at such corners more material is engaged by and pressed outwardly by edge 12. The circular edge 11 functions to cause the extra material at the corners to How well over the corners of washer 6.

Referring in particular to Figs. 3 and 5, it will be seen that edge 12 defines the perimeter 13 and that edge 11 defines the perimeter 14. Also it'will beseen that circular edge 11 functions particularly to fiow the metal at the corners as is indicated at 15. y

It is desirable to have a strong drivino connection between the web and the hub to render it capable of withstanding torsional stresses of a substantial order, and for this purpose I may, if found desirable, reenforce the connection between the web and the hub by a metal insert.

Refering to Figs. 2, 3 and 8, a reenforcement member 16, in the form of a metal disc having a polygonal opening 17, similar to opening 3 of the web 2, is provided. The disc 16 makes a close fit over the center piece 4 of the hub and extends into the web member 2 a suiiicient distance to make a firm engagement with said web. This forms a strong union between the web and the hub. Spaced openings 18 are formed in disc 16 to provide friction means between the disc 1.6 and web member 2. The reenforcement disc is molded directly vinto the web, the material of the web connection between the web and the hub and makes it possible, if desired, to form 'a portion of the web of a less costly material and one which may be inferior in strength to that from which the remainder of the web is formed. This is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 wherein a portion of the web is shown as being formed of a less costly material 19 and which may,be also inferior in strength to that of the remainder of the web. The material 19 may comprise, for example, wood fiber and a suitable binder, wood fiber being desirable because of its low cost. Another suitable material which may be used is cotton batting. The substitution of a cheaper material for a set the additional cost of the metal disc. For riveting the washer 6 in place a pressure of a high order is required. For example, a pressure of the order of forty-five tons may be required. As a result of this highpressure the entire center piece is spread somewhat and is forced into firm engagement with the walls fopening 3 in the web, also the center piece is forced into firm engagement with the sides of the opening in the washer 6. By dishing the washer initially somewhat as shown in Fig. 2, and placing the concave side toward the web 2, a firm engagement between the washer and the web is insured when the washer is flattened by the die during the riveting operation. By taperingy the opening 7 in the washer as shown, a better union between the center piece 4 and the washer is obtained.

After the riveting operation is completed, the structure is removed from the press and the hole 8 is then bored in the center piece. It is desirable to fOrm hole 8 after the riveting'operation is completed-because if the hole is formed prior thereto, then due to the. great pressure required for effecting the riveting D the hole is likely to be distorted, making it necessary to ream it out, thus adding an extra operation to the manufacturing process. By utilizing initially a solid center piece and boring it out after the riveting operation is completed, this difficulty is avoided.

By my invention I am enabled to provide a metallic hub for a non-metallic member of the type referred to, which hub is capable of-being manufactured and applied to the non-metallic member at a low cost but which at the same time has a rigid driving connection with the non-metallic member and one not likely to come loose.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

part of the web tends to off 1. In an article of the character described, 7

the combination with a non-metallic web having a polygonal opening, of a hub comprising4 a polygonal center piece which projects through said opening and has an integral liange engaging one face of the web, and a washer surrounding the end of said center piece and engaging the other face of the web, said washer having a polygonal opening the defining walls of which taper outwardly, the outer portion of the end of said center piece being pressed over the adjacent edge of said washers and into the space provided due to the tapered opening in the' lwashers.

2. In an article of the character described, the combination with a non-metallic web having a polygonal opening, of a hub comprising a polygonal center piece which projects through said opening and has an integral flange engaging one face of the web, said center piece being tapered inwardly from said web toward its other end, and a washer surrounding the endiof said center piece and engaging the outer face of the web, the outer portion of the end of said center piece being pressed over the adjacent edge of the Washer.

3. In an article of the character described, the combination with a non-metallic web having a polygonal opening, of a hub comprising a polygonal center piece which projects through said opening and has an integral flange engaging one face of the web, said center piece being tapered inwardly from said web toward its other end, a washer surrounding the end of said center piece and engaging the other face of the web, the opening in said Washer having a portion tapered in a direction opposite to the taper of said center piece, the outer portion of the end of said center piece being pressed over the adjacent edge of the washer.

4Q In an article of the character described, the' combination with a non-metallic web having a polygonal opening, of a hub comprising a polygonal center piece which projects through said opening and has an integral flange engaging one face of the web, a metal disc embedded in'said web closely fitting the hub and reenforcing the connection between said web and hub, and a Washer surrounding the end of said center piece and engaging the other face of the web, the outer portion of the end of said center piece being pressed 'over the adjacent edge of the Washer around the entire'periphery of the center piece.

5. In an article of the character described, the combination with a non-metallic web having a ,polygonal opening, of a hub comprisinga polygonal center piece which projects through said opening and has an integral flange engaging one face of the web, a reenforcement disc having a polygonal opening coinciding with the opening 1n said web, said disc being embedded in the'web and having additional openings in which 

